Noah Baumbach on “Margot at the Wedding”

Some of us have been following writer-director Noah Baumbach’s career since his 1995 debut (the addictively quotable, post-collegiate pearl “Kicking and Screaming”), but his wry, semi-autobiographical dramedy “The Squid and the Whale” had even bigger acclaim and success spilling out its blowhole in 2005. Critics have been leaving the bar high for Baumbach, since his fifth directorial feature, “Margot at the Wedding,” shares some similarities with “Squid,” including a reactionary novelist, self-destructive family politics, parent-child role reversals and brutally sharp-witted dialogue. Nicole Kidman stars as the domineering Margot, on a trip to the country with her son Claude (Zane Pais) to visit her boho sister Pauline (Jennifer Jason Leigh, Baumbach’s real-life wife). Pauline is about to marry the shlubbily mediocre Malcolm (Jack Black), a man Margot instantly despises and can’t hold her barbed tongue about, making for a cringe-worthy reunion of humiliations, projections and secrets exposed. So why are we laughing so much? I had a chance to speak to Baumbach the week that his film opened.

In “The Squid and the Whale,” children learned behavior from parents who show no filter between what they think and their verbal lashings out. In “Margot,” nearly everyone acts like this, blood-related or not. The dialogue feels genuine but somewhat stylized to me since I’ve never met anyone with that personality type. Do you know people who act as scathingly as this?

I know a lot of different kinds of people, and I’m not specifically drawing upon real people. But yeah, I guess I would say I recognize the behavior in the movie. It’s familiar to me. I mean, I don’t see them quite as unfiltered. There are things they say, Margot in particular, that might make you think: “Oh, I can’t believe she’s saying that right now.” But there’s a lot she withholds, also. I don’t know if Pauline or Malcolm is so unfiltered. Did you find that?

A little bit. Definitely not to Margot’s extent, but I’d also believe a volatile chemistry could cause people to pick up each other’s bad behaviors while in close proximity.

Right, and well, I think there’s a major difference to how people talk when they’re around their family. In Margot’s case, if you’re in crisis, you’re often not your best self. I think the conversation in this movie is very particular to the situation and environment that the characters are in, as opposed to if these people were all at a cocktail party being introduced for the first time. I think sisters feel freer to say things to one another that they wouldn’t say to other people. Similarly, Margot says things to Claude that she wouldn’t say to other people. That’s evidenced when Margot is interviewed by Dick in that bookstore and he takes a swipe at her. She has a really hard time with that.

That scene in particular read as a pointed attack on critics who harp on trying to figure out what specifically is autobiographical in your work. Does the endless analysis of your personal life and upbringing make you want to, say, go make a genre film just to get them off your back?

Well, I guess by [having made] this movie, it didn’t. I got tired of answering that, certainly in “Squid” interviews. If it was interesting to me, I would’ve been more interested in talking about it. I don’t know any writer of fiction who enjoys trying to point out or dissect whatever they produced with strangers and let them go through it and pick apart what’s real and what isn’t.

Even though Margot has some dislikeable qualities, you’ve said before that you hope audiences will understand her. Reverse Shot wrote about this film that “the compassion [Baumbach] once showed toward his neurotic characters, starting from his 1995 debut, ‘Kicking and Screaming,’ has turned into rancor.” In defense of that, would you personally want to spend time with these characters, and how mean-spirited do you see the film to be?

A lot of us do spend time with these characters. People might not want to see that in a movie, but I think this behavior is a lot more common than what people let on or recognize. On the other side of it, I’m not writing about people I necessarily want to go hang out with. It’s certainly not why I’m writing about them. In a lot of ways, I think the question is wrong. I’m not saying yours is; you’re reading from a review. I don’t really know how to start talking about these people with “Oh, they’re unsympathetic.” First of all, I don’t think that’s true from even sensitive people’s criteria. Pauline is not a perfect human being, but I think she’s very sympathetic. I think Malcolm, the kids and John Turturro’s character are sympathetic. I have a lot of empathy for Margot, but I understand how people might… you know, I’ll give them a pass on that one. She dominates a lot of the movie, and I know that can be difficult for people, but in the movies and books I like, there is such a thing as an unreliable narrator. I suppose it fits in a Jim Thompson novel, but why not have it in movies that are actually closer to our lives, that are about real human interaction [rather] than trying to sympathize with hitmen, murderers, or some sort?

When you write characters who are themselves writers, do you find it difficult to convey how good or bad their work is?

Well, that’s not important. Whether or not Margot is a good writer isn’t really relevant to the movie. A lot of times, people would refer to Jeff Daniels’ character in “Squid” as a bad writer. I don’t think that’s true, necessarily. But that was people deciding because they had a problem with him as a person. I think at this point, we’re all familiar with writers that we may not like as people but we like their work.

You worked with your wife for the first time, which I’m sure was a real pleasure, but was the transition ever awkward in maintaining a professional demeanor?

No, I found it really easy. That’s why we did it  because we thought it would be fun, collaborative and great. It’s a continuation of the marriage; things that come from marriage also come into the work. I’ve been on a few movie sets and Jennifer’s been on a lot of them, so we’re very comfortable and feel very free on them. It’s great to have somebody that you know so well who can bear with you. I mean, I’ll get annoyed with actors I’m not married to over a 40-day shoot. [laughs] A film set becomes its own family anyway, and all family dynamics come out during a shoot. The trick is hiring people who know how to handle that. But it’s like any marriage. If Jennifer and I decided to go coal mining together for the first time, I’m sure the anxiety and tension of that might put a strain on things. The fact is, making a movie is something we’re both very comfortable with, and excited and happy to do.

The Best Of The Last

The end is near. In mere days Portlandia wraps up its final season, and oh what a season it’s been. Lucky for you, you can watch the entire season right now right here and on the IFC app, including this free episode courtesy of Subaru.

But now, let’s take a moment to look back at some of the new classics Fred and Carrie have so thoughtfully bestowed upon us. (We’ll be looking back through tear-blurred eyes, but you do you.)

Couples Dinner

It’s not that being single sucks, it’s that you suck if you’re single.

Cancel it!

A sketch for anyone who has cancelled more appointments than they’ve kept. Which is everyone.

Forgotten America

This one’s a “Serial” killer…everything both right and wrong about true crime podcasts.

Wedding Planners

The only bad wedding is a boring wedding.

Disaster Hut

It’s only the end of the world if your doomsday kit doesn’t include rosé.

Your Portlandia Personality Test

Carrie and Fred understand that although we have so much in common, we’re each so beautifully unique and different. To help us navigate those differences, Portlandia has found an easy and honest way to embrace our special selves in the form of a progressive new traffic system: a specific lane for every kind of driver. It’s all in honor of the show’s 8th and final season, and it’s all presented by Subaru.

Ready to find out who you really are? Match your personality to a lane and hop on the expressway to self-understanding.

Lane 10: Trucks Piled With Junk

Your junk is falling out of your trunk. Shake a tail light, people — this lane is for you.

Lane 33: Twins

You’re like a Gemini, but waaaay more pedestrian. Maybe you and a friend just wear the same outfits a lot. Who cares, it’s just twinning enough to make you feel special.

Lane 27: Broken Windows

Bad luck follows you around and everyone knows it. Your proverbial seat is always damp from proverbial rain. Is this the universe telling you to swallow your pride? Yes.

Lane 69: Filthy Cars

You’re all about convenience. Getting your car washed while you drive is a no-brainer.

Lane 43: Newly Divorced Singles

It’s been a while since you’ve driven alone, and you don’t know the rules of the road anymore. What’s too fast? What’s too slow? Are you sending the right signals? Don’t worry, the breakdown lane is nearby if you need it.

Still can’t find a lane to match your personality? Check out all the videos here. And see the final season of Portlandia this spring on IFC.

Last-Minute Holiday Gift Guide

It’s the final countdown to Christmas and thanks to IFC’s movie marathon all Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, you can revel in classic ’80s films AND find inspiration for your last-minute gifts. Here are our recommendations, if you need a head start:

Musical Instrument

Great analog entertainment substitute when you refuse to give your kid the Nintendo Switch they’ve been drooling over.

Breakfast In Bed

Any significant other or child would appreciate these Uncle Buck-approved flapjacks. Just make sure you’re not stuck on clean up duty.

Cocktail Supplies

You’ll need them to get through the holidays.

Dance Lessons

So you can learn to shake-shake-shake (unless you know ghosts willing to lend a hand).

Comfy Clothes

With all the holiday meals, there may be some…embigenning.

Get even more great inspiration all Christmas Eve and Day on IFC, and remember…